“That one can convince one’s opponents with printed reasons, I have not believed since the year 1764. It is not for that purpose that I have taken up my pen, but rather merely to annoy them, and to give strength and courage to those on our side, and to make it known to the others that they have not convinced us.”
G.C. Lichtenberg (1742 – 1799), courtesy of 'Deogolwulf'

Sunday, 13 January 2013

A faction without a leader is a rabble

And rabbles tend to be defeated! There is, I sense, a very large faction in this country made up of those who have always known, and those who have recently realised, that membership of the EU is not only a disadvantage but coming close to a disaster. Events of the past four years have certainly added to their numbers. However, we - oh yes, I was against it from the off! - suffer one crippling weakness - we lack a leader. Every movement needs a focus upon whom we, and our opponents can concentrate, someone who can direct our attacks and counter-attacks against that great, amorphous, squidgy, conglomoration of fudge that is the British establishment. It cannot, I think, be Nigel Farage of UKIP. Somehow, in someway, he is not yet considered a serious political figure - although that could change particularly if his party follows through on their poll ratings at the ballot box in the forthcoming European elections at the expense of the Tories. Thus, it is incumbent on us all to vote UKIP in our European consitituencies if the Tories look as though they might win - only a huge, headline-winning, Tory defeat will frighten Westminster Tories into rebellion against 'Dim Dave'. No-one with more than three brain cells believes Dave's heart is in the fight against the Berlin-Brussels axis, least of all those apparatchiks who inhabit that region. He will go through the motions and like Tory prime ministers before him will come back and wave a bit of paper claiming peace and prosperity in our time! My guess is that most Tory MPs already realise that they are not going to win a majority at the next general election but if enough of them realise that they, personally, will definitely be on the casualty list because of UKIP running interference, then maybe, just maybe, they will rebel - now! And if one or two suitably heavyweight hitters from the Tory front bench come out and declare for the anti-European movement we will have the sort of leadership we need and given my suspicion concerning the yellow streak running up Dave's back, he might well change course accordingly. Today's headlines are full of blather from past Europhiles like Heseltine and Clarke who, despite being completely wrong all those years ago, are still peddling the same old guff. We need concentrated, co-ordinated counter-fire from some 'big guns' - and we need it quick!

Luverly! Can't wait for the Brazilian beach ball competition! Mind you, I don't want any funny jokes here when the pole-vaulting starts! And I suppose the hurdlers will have to allow an inch or too higher on their clearance.

I suppose the troops are a bit restive. Everyone hates the politicos, Labour is irrelevant and wisely keeping a low profile. The Lib/Cons have no good news and the old nasty party is making noises about Europe. Meanwhile The Mail and Currant Bun stir it up with the Useless Europe/Useless Dave trope and a vision of a UKIP landslide. All a childish diversion. Exit EU? no way, the folk who own the country won't let that happen. When push come to shove the press will say no and so will the party funding. Dave will come up with some weasle words and in we'll stay. Europe as a whole is in a fix and we cannot avoid it - and the Yanks don't want us any more - get used to it.

I reckon the Tories will win 2015 and enjoy a weak recovery and win 2020 too - relax.

Roger, if it was merely a question of us renegotiating our deal with Europe in which Brussels tosses us a few 'goodies' to keep us quiet and provide Dave with a modesty leaf then you may be right. However, it takes two to tango and the problem is that Europe wants to leaves us not the other way round! Or, rather, it doesn't exactly want to leave us but they are on a journey which has been accelerated by recent events. They want greater unification, not less, and we either go with them or step off the train. So poor old Dave might not have much choice in the matter.

I don't think UKIP will enjoy a landslide but it will well and truly hobble the main parties especially the Tories. If Miliband can manage to rid himself of the hated Balls he might actually do quite well.